Mathieu van der Poel: 'All I know is I will get on my bike tomorrow'
Uncertainty reigns over the peloton as the early season racing calendar is left in tatters

Mathieu van der Poel says uncertainty over when racing will resume has left riders redundant, in the dark over what to train towards during the coming weeks and months.
"No one can say when the next race is," Mathieu van der Poel told Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab) from a Spanish airport. "That makes it difficult. What are we still training for? Even the Olympic Games are no longer certain."
Of course, Van der Poel admits he knows there are currently greater problems out there that supersede bike racing.
"I'm not just talking about cycling. Of course, all those cancellations are a huge disappointment but in the end, it is only bike racing. There are currently bigger problems in the world."
>>> Christian Prudhomme expects cancellation of Paris-Roubaix but is hopeful for Tour de France
Initially, Van der Poel saw the cancellation of Italy's March races as a surprise blessing, the Dutchman needing more time to recover from illness, but now faces the uncertainty of not knowing what to train and peak for now.
"It's too bad but as a rider you can't help it. So I try not to worry too much about it. I didn't even think those first cancellations in Italy were a disaster. I had been ill anyway and needed time. But now the hardest part is what are we going to train for the next few weeks? When do you peak? Nobody currently knows when we can even start again."
This sentiment is echoed by CCC's Greg Van Avermaet, who also tells the Flemish newspaper (opens in new tab) he has trained all winter for nothing and will now reduce his workload over the coming weeks.
"It would be absurd to train hard now if you don't know when you can race again. I intend to lower my fitness level a bit.
"Almost all of my winter training was for nothing. For months I worked towards this period but that has turned out to be all for nothing," the Belgian said.
Asked whether he should now turn his complete focus towards the mountain bike event at the Tokyo Olympics, Van der Poel still doubts whether they will even escape cancellation.
"But will they continue? That is also in my head. It is worrying just waiting for news. That is the most difficult thing, that total uncertainty. All I know is that I will be on my bike tomorrow and train for hours… But why? What for? Do you know?"
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Sprint teams mess it up in Treviso: Five talking points from stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
This was supposed to be a bunch sprint, right? Right?
By Adam Becket • Published
-
CamelBak MULE Commute 22 backpack review
There is a lot to like about the CamelBak MULE Commute 22 backpack: it works perfectly for a variety of tasks from work, to travel, with all errands in between
By Paul Grele • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel relaxed about rest of Giro d'Italia: 'We already achieved everything we wanted'
Dutchman looking to enjoy the next two weeks of the Grand Tour, after completing his goal of wearing pink
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'I would have signed for this before': Van der Poel holds onto pink jersey at Giro d'Italia with second on time trial
Dutchman hopes to hold onto race lead until Sicily
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'It really hurt' — Mathieu van der Poel on his first Giro d'Italia stage win
Dutchman leads race after stage one in Hungary
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel storms to victory on stage one of the Giro d'Italia
Alpecin-Fenix rider claims pink jersey after his win, Biniam Girmay in second
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel says he didn't have the legs to follow everybody at Amstel Gold Race
Dutchman says that Tour of Flanders suits him better after Amstel fourth place
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Winning is not as easy as everyone thinks' — Mathieu van der Poel after second Tour of Flanders victory
Dutchman says he was calm heading into the sprint on Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Can Mathieu van der Poel beat Wout van Aert at Tour of Flanders? Dutchman says he'll need to get better
Despite winning at Dwars door Vlaanderen, Alpecin-Fenix rider says Flanders is another step up
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel declares 'I'm ready' ahead of Tour of Flanders
The Alpecin-Fenix rider says Tadej Pogačar is going to be a big threat on Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published